From Cunningham to Curzon (Chapter 2)

British colonial policies significantly disrupted the maintenance and preservation of Mughal monuments in Agra, Fatehpur Sikri, and Delhi between 1803 and 1857. Key findings reveal that while some structures received intermittent funding for repairs—such as the Taj Mahal under Lord Minto and Akbar's tomb under Lord Hastings—the British government largely dismantled traditional Islamic endowment systems (awqaf), removing tax-free status and redirecting revenues to state benefits. This led to widespread decay, particularly in Agra and Fatehpur Sikri, where shrines like Sheikh Salim Chishti's dargah lost protection post-1847. Delhi's monuments fared better due to a special magistrate overseeing waqf properties, but palaces and gardens there also deteriorated. The study highlights how high imperialism altered spatial practices, prioritizing state interests over monument conservation until the 1857 Uprising, which further destabilized their care.

(Ed.). (2011). 2 From cunningham to curzon. Monumental Matters, 49–75. https://doi.org/10.1515/9781478091493-004